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The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to a street layout for round three as the series debuts the Java House grand prix of Arlington. This is an inaugural event built around two of Texas’s major venues, and it represents the first time IndyCar tackles this particular urban ribbon of asphalt. Fans and teams will be testing fresh strategies on a track that blends a long straightaway with a technical stadium-side complex, and broadcast partners have scheduled comprehensive coverage across linear and streaming platforms.
The new circuit measures 2.73 miles and features 14 corners, making it the longest street course on the IndyCar calendar. The layout winds through Arlington’s sports and entertainment district, passing both AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, and includes a technical horseshoe section beside the stadium bowl. A notable operational detail is a split pit lane, similar to the arrangement used at Detroit, which will affect pit call timing and spectator sightlines. The race distance is set at 70 laps — covering approximately 191.1 miles — and promises a mix of long-run tempo and tight, tactical moments by the stadiums.
Weekend schedule and broadcast plan
The event week follows a compact schedule with on-track action and TV windows timed for both U.S. and international audiences. Key sessions are listed as follows: Friday, March 13 — 3pm EST Indy NXT practice on FOX SPORTS 2 and 4pm EST IndyCar practice on FOX SPORTS 1. Saturday, March 14 — 9:30am EST IndyCar practice (FS1), 11:15am EST Indy NXT practice (FS2), 2:30pm EST IndyCar qualifying (FS2), and 4:30pm EST Indy NXT qualifying (FS2). Sunday, March 15 — 10am EST IndyCar warmup (FS1), 11am EST Indy NXT race (27 laps, FS1), 12:30pm EST pre-race show (FOX) and the green flag for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington at 1:17pm EST on FOX. Broadcasting will also be available via FOX One, the FOX Sports app and INDYCAR Radio, with Canadian coverage on TSN.
Qualifying format and session notes
For this street race the series has modified its approach to the Firestone Fast Six, implementing a single-car qualifying procedure for those final runs. That makes Arlington the first street event where drivers in the Fast Six make individual attempts, removing traffic variables and placing a premium on a clean, perfect lap. Early practice times include a Friday session at 4pm ET on FS2 and Saturday practice at 9:30am ET on FS1, both essential for teams to refine setups for the long front straight and the slow horseshoe portion beside AT&T Stadium. All sessions will stream on FOX One and be carried on the FOX Sports app for viewers wanting alternate feeds.
How to watch live
Fans can tune in for the main race broadcast on FOX with the TV start at 12:30pm EST on Sunday, March 15 and the green flag scheduled for 1:17pm EST. In Canada, live television coverage will be available on TSN. Streaming options include FOX One and the FOX Sports app; additional features such as in-car camera access are being offered on platforms like HBO MAX (check regional availability). For listeners, the full weekend will be available on INDYCAR Radio, which also provides timing updates and team radio soundbites.
Championship picture and competitive context
The championship enters Arlington with momentum swings from the season opener and the Phoenix race. Alex Palou, the three-time defending champion, won at St. Petersburg but lost ground after an early collision at Phoenix that dropped him in the standings. Josef Newgarden captured victory at Phoenix and currently leads the points table. The top of the standings is tightly packed: Newgarden holds a slender five-point advantage over Kyle Kirkwood, with Scott McLaughlin sitting third at 12 points adrift. Pato O’Ward is fourth, 15 points back, and Palou is fifth, 19 points behind the leader. Team Penske has already claimed three of the first six podium slots this season, underscoring its early form.
Beyond the leaderboard, Arlington introduces local storyline interest: the event’s proximity to Mexico and Texas means drivers like Pato O’Ward may enjoy strong fan support, and teams are eager to see how the unusual layout influences strategy. INDYCAR has packed the 2026 calendar with multiple new street events — including races in Markham, Ontario and Washington D.C. later in August — and Arlington will be the first of the trio to test the series’ street-race evolution. Expect pit strategy to be crucial, especially with the split pit lane and a circuit that rewards both top speed down the long straight and precision through the stadium-linked horseshoe.
Looking ahead
Arlington will offer new data for engineers and a fresh spectacle for fans who will see IndyCar threaded between two major sports venues. The mixture of long runs and tight technical sections should create overtaking opportunities and strategic variation across the 70-lap distance. As teams prepare, watching practice times and qualifying execution — especially the single-car Fast Six attempts — will be the best early indicator of who adapts fastest to this unusual street layout.